Furring device



March 17, 1931. POWELL 1,796,620

FURRING DEVICE Filed May 27. 1929 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 DAVID POWELL, 011 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA rename 'nn'vicn Application filed m 27, 1929. serial No. 366,233.

The present invention has relation to means forsecuring wire lat-h on the outer wall of frame structures, as a preliminary to applying stucco covering.

- The'studding of frame buildings is usually covered by 'a' layer of boards, called sheathing, and building paper, upon which suitable laths {are mounted for the support of stucco surfacing. In the warmer sections of theycountry, however, where frost is comparatively unknown, it is customary to fasten building paper directly to the studding, and to eliminate the sheathing entirely. On the topo'f this paper is placed wire .15 lath, which usually is nothing but ordinary poultry wire, ancl this lath must be fastened to the studdingfas no other support 'isavailable. It is, furthermore, necessary to mount the lath in spaced relation to the studding,

in order toprovide-a substantial anchorage for the stucco covering.

In view of the foregoing the general objectof my invention is to provide an improved furring device. More particularly 26 my object is the provision of a furring de vice which may be placed with one hand, leaving the other hand free to hold and manipulate a hammer, and which, upon being struck by the hammer, automatically lifts the wire lath away from the studding a predetermined distance. A further object is to hold the lath permanently locked in this position.

To this end my invention consists in the combinations hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 shows the structure of my invention as it appears before it is applied as in practice,

Fig. 2 shows the device inserted under the wire lath it is employed to support,

Fig. 3 shows the position taken by my device, when the lath is clamped in spaced relation to the studding,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the members of my device, and

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of bracket embodying the invention.

The structure of my invention comprises a spacing bracket 1 and "a nail or other suitable driven member 2. The nail is normally held by friction within the bracket, substantially in the relation shown in Fig. 1.

The operator 'will'h'ave within reach, usually in the pocket of his apron, a number of these combination fur-ring brackets. He picks up one and places its toe 3 under a strand? of the wire lath, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2. While holdingthe furring bracket in this position he strikes the nail a light blow, removes his. hand and "strikes a second, sharp blow. This causes the head of the nail to reach an inclined [portion 5 of the bracket and, as the nail continues to travel into the studding, to tip the bracket on *itsheel 4 until the position shown in Fig. -3 reached. At this point the nail is arrested by a heel projection 6 of the bracket and the strand of the wire lath is heldfirm'ly clamped between the nail andthe bracket.

v 'lheibracket of 'my invention is shown made from "aliatfstrip of metal and it provided with two elongated slots 8 and '9,

movement has been arrested bythe slot endwalls Hand '12 abuttingthe'nail shank. In this position the bracket is held firmly locked. I

It is importantto note that the heel proj ection Stakes a substantially perpendicula r position below the clamped wire, when the nail is driven-home, thereby forming apositive stop for-thenailhead andinsuringuniform spacing of the lath on its support.

The importance of theshape of the heel will be appreciated by examining the structure 14 of Figs. and 6. The relation of the heel to the toe remains substantially the same, but the heel has been rounded off considerably more, substantially as indicated by the numeral 16. The incline 5 has been replaced by a substantially semicircular crown 15. The slots of the bracket remain substantially as hereinbefore described.

Then the operator strikes the nail and its head strikes the "crown 15 of the bracket, the impact causes the heel 16 to slip forward and thereby to tip the bracket. The tipping movement is arrested by the endwalls of the slots, as above described.

This modified bracket may be slightly cheaper to manufacture on account of the larger curves, and it hasthe advantage of presenting two substantially perpendicular walls resisting thepressure of thenail.

I am aware that combination. furring brackets have been made and used, but I know of no such devices capable of automatically lifting wire lath to a predetermined height above its support. In other combination furring brackets the use of both hands is required in' order to insert the bracket under the lath wire and to raise the lath, compelling the operatorto lay down his hammer every time heplaces a bracket.

I claim: I I

1. A furring device comprising a spacing bracket and a driven member normally held by friction in said bracket, said bracket including, a fiat toe for insertion under wire lath, a heel behind said toeupon which the member pivots, and an inclined surface be low the head of thedriven 'member' along which said head slides when driven in, thereby, causing the bracket to swing on its pivot and to raise the wire lath a predetermined distance. r V

2. The combination with wire lath, ofv a spacing bracket having alined slots, and a nail normally held seated in said slots-by friction, said bracket including, a flat toe for insertion under a strand" of said lath, a heel behind said toe uponwhich the bracket pivots,

an inclinedsurface below thehead. of said nail along which said head travels when driven in, thereby tipping the bracket on its heel pivot and'raising the wire,-there being a groove intermediate said toe and said in- ;clinein'which the wire is held clamped by when the nail is driven into" said support,

thereby tipping the bracket and spacingthe V lath fromihesupport, a groove between'said toe and said incline in which the wire is held clampechby the nail, and a wall rising from said heel to the said toe and forming a positive stop for said nail.

4. The combination with a nail and wire lath, of a furring bracket comprising a strip of fiat metal bent substantially into the shape of an inverted U, the ends of the strip being curved forward to form a toe insertable under a wire of said lath and a heel behind said toe,

there'being an elongated perforation in the side of the bracket above said toe, in which said nail normally is held by friction, and an alined perforation in the other bracket side, through which the nail is driven, the head of the driven nail striking the top of the U, thereby tipping the bracket and raising said wire. 1

5. In combination with a nail and wirelath, an oblong member having on one side a transverse groove the lower side of which forms a toe for insertion under a wire of said lath, the opposite end of the member behind said toe being rounded to form a heel on which the member pivots, the member being lengthwise perforated to receive and frictionally to hold saidnail, the head of which, when struck by a hammer, reaches and strikes the opposite end of the member, thereby tip.- ping the member on its heel andraising the wire, which then becomes clamped within said groove by the head of the nail,

In testimony whereofI have hereunto affixed my signature, 7 r

DAVID POWELL. 

